Iran’s stern, bizarre anti-homosexuality message

In Iran, where homosexual activity is punishable by death, political and religious leaders use a mix of old misunderstandings and new misconceptions as reasons to oppose basic human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The two most recent Iranian denunciations of homosexuality came from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and from Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister who is a top adviser to Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Both men apparently have no personal knowledge or understanding of LGBT people.

At a conference about the Arab Spring, Velayati today not only parroted the time-worn notion that homosexuality and corruption are linked, but also made the newer, quite bizarre suggestion that the world’s 7 billion people ought to worry that homosexuality will somehow “bring human procreation to a halt.”

On Monday, Sept. 24, Ahmadinejad discussed homosexuality on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” but he dodged a question about how he would feel if his son were born gay. He insisted that homosexuality is a choice — a widespread belief that runs counter to scientific evidence. An excerpt from CNN’s account of the interview:

“Shouldn’t freedom and individuality and all those things also extend to people who just happen to be gay? Who were born gay. They weren’t made gay,” says Morgan. “Wouldn’t it be great for the President of Iran to say you know something, everyone’s entitled to be whatever sexuality they are born to be? That would be a great symbol of freedom.”

“Do you really believe that someone is born homosexual?” says Iran’s 6th president, answering a question with one of his own. “I’m sorry. Let me ask you this. Do you believe that anyone is giving birth through homosexuality? Homosexuality ceases procreation. Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly, and others do not accept your behavior, that they’re denying your freedom?”

“You are a father of three children,” the host continues. “You have two sons and a daughter, what would you do if one of them was gay?”

Speaking through a translator, the 55-year-old former engineer and teacher shares his perspective:

“Proper education must be given,” says Ahmadinejad. “If a group recognizes an ugly behavior or ugly deed as legitimate, you must not expect other countries or other groups to give it the same recognition.”

8 Responses

If sexual preference (sexual desire in other words) is genetic, then aren’t all pedophiles, necrophiliacs and zoophiliacs (people who have sex with animals) all normal? I mean you can’t control your genes right? So let us not try to control our desires or educate our children, lets just pretend its all genetic – this way we don’t have to feel responsible for our actions and degraded nature.

Just in terms of logical argument, that’s one of the better points that an anti-homosexuality debater can make. But there is a persuasive counter-argument, because you’re equating categories with crucial differences — particularly because there can be no equal consensual relationship for the sexual preferences that you list, except between consenting same-sex adults.

In real life, once you get to know decent, honest, caring people who are attracted to others of the same sex, you will find that your logical argument rings hollow.